Despite our sketchy 3G connectivity and low-speed internet connection in general, Bangkok is among the top places when it comes to social media. According to socialbakers.com, at the time of writing Bangkok is the city with the highest number of Facebookers - almost 12.8 million users. The Czech-based firm, which provides social media analysis and stats, also ranks Thailand 13th in the world list with almost 19 million users. Moreover, given that Suvarnabhumi Airport and Siam Paragon took the top two as the most Instagrammed places in 2012 says something about how tech-literate we Thais are.
But with millions of Thai Facebookers and Instagrammers out there, how do you know who you should spend your precious (office) time following? Guru presents our picks for the biggest players in the Thai social media scene worth paying attention to.
FOTO FEVER
Aspiring photographers should follow these individuals to get amazed and inspired.
Noom’s pictures show different sides of Bangkok
@awnoom
Athipan "Noom" Wongsuebyut works as a graphic designer and depicts quirky sides of Bangkok through his Instagram pictures. He knows how to make things Bangkokians come across in their daily life - bridges, roads, buildings, escalators - more interesting via his photos. We find his perspective fascinating and apparently his over 280,000 followers agree.
One of Joe’s gems on Instagram
@joez19
It may be hard for you to believe that all the pictures on Jirasak "Joe" Panpiansilp's Instagram account were captured using only his iPhone. Joe rides his motorcycles to different places in Thailand such as Tatton National Park in Chaiyaphum and Chiang Khan in Loei, capturing beauty in nature. Although he says he's not a professional photographer, over 108,000 Instagrammers are his fans.
Gallery of cute stuff by Pam
@instapam
Arattaya "Pam" Teutvongse is another graphic designer with a real eye for the lens. Also an avid collector, she loves to share photos of vintage and cute objects she has gathered over the years. Her collection features everything from watches to buttons, cameras, pins and more. Those who want different ideas on how to shoot products and who love cute stuff should join the over 84,000 people following her.
Follow Pete’s food diary on his Facebook page
FOOD PORN
If you need to get your saliva going before eating lunch in front of your work computer, you may need some food porn from these individuals.
facebook.com/eatwithpete
Check out Perapat "Pete" Tunlayadechanont's Facebook page especially if you're a fan of buffets. On his FB page, you'll mostly get a glimpse of what's on offer at hotel buffets in town and dishes from restaurants in and out of Bangkok. He also sprinkles his page with news of new food products and food events. Since creating his page in July 2011, he has garnered over 10,000 likes. There's no surprise he's such a foodie since he's the owner of Kinniji restaurant (facebook.com/kinniji) in Sam Yan and used to weigh 108kg when he was a kid.
facebook.com/mysousvidelife
With a background in hotel administration from Cornell University and patisserie courses at Le Cordon Bleu, 24-year-old food fanatic Daneeya "Nida" Bunnag offers restaurant reviews, food recipes and cooking tips in English and Thai. Also find mouth-watering posts on her blog (www.mysousvidelife.wordpress.com).
Nida treats fans with sweet and savoury fare
facebook.com/MadamCinnamon
Don't just eat, create. Pakavadee Siriprasert teaches you how to cook with straight-to-the-point recipes and pictures of Thai, Western and Japanese dishes. Her food formulas have attracted over 67,000 likes.
LAUGHING MATTERS
One of the many reasons we visit Facebook and Instagram is to find something fun to lift our mood. Go straight to these individuals for your daily dose of laughter.
All the boys want the mustachioed housewife because she’s so hot
facebook.com/Maebanmeenuad
@maebaanmeenuad
We first talked with Anuruk "Bew" Cholmunee, better known as Maeban Mee Nuad (mustachioed housewife), last August when his Facebook page had received over 13,000 likes within its first month of existence. Since then Bew has gone bigger and more fabulous with over 220,000 likes, winning the "Top Talk About Internet Attraction" award from website MThai, as well as joining Instagram in November to cause more laughter. Bew serves comedy through pictures of him in long gowns (or occasionally with few clothes on) striking fierce poses in public places or unlikely situations. You go, girl.
Mae Nak versus G.I. Joe
facebook.com/tudtorcadcad
Heuy! Nee Man Tud Tor Chad Chad roughly translates to "Hey! That's Obviously Photoshopped", and is also a Facebook page that uses digital image altercation to brighten up your day. The administrator, who wishes to remain anonymous, declares his page to be where comedy reigns supreme. You will find funny Photoshopped pictures that play off movie posters, political news and topical issues. For instance, the admin mixes elements from posters of Pee Mak and G.I. Joe: Retaliation to create a new movie. He also gives this fan-fiction movie a new synopsis in which Mae Nak attacks the G.I. Joe team to retaliate for recruiting her husband. Check it out to realise for yourself why over 280,000 Facebookers think it's hilarious.
The anonymous founder of The Club of Dry Jokes and his signature pose
facebook.com/samakhom
@samakhom
The Samakhom Muk Siew Siew (The Club of Dry Jokes) Facebook page is going on its third year with a cult following of 1.6 million fans. Run by an anonymous young man, he and his team attract their huge following by simply posting funny words. They either post jokes in Thai they come up with, ones that they find, or that fans send to them. They had a meet-and-greet with fans at the 41th Thailand Book Fair and published their second book of jokes earlier this month.
tinyurl.com/9mm7vrv
The most absurd listing in this section is the Chang Pen Sad Kin Leaud Facebook page. The title translates to "elephants are blood-sucking animals". On it, a team of (obviously fake) researchers try to show evidence of elephants being blood-sucking evil animals through (also obviously fake) pictures. The team makes outrageous claims such as elephants can fly at high speed; they prey on humans; they taught Thai people how to take a dump. We humans are spared by them because they eat our heads as food. They are also able to control our minds. While many people play along with the gag, the page has drawn controversy as some people don't find mocking the national animal funny. However, since October last year, it has attracted almost 60,000 likes.
FASHION AND BEAUTY
Instagram and Facebook are convenient ways to follow the latest collections and trends. Check out these accounts to stay at the forefront of fashion.
Momay teaches you how to put on your best face
facebook.com/labeaudress
@labeaudress
Subscribe to La Beau Dress on either Facebook or Instagram if you want to dress like a star at a price civilians can pay. They specialise in creating affordable versions of dresses worn by Hollywood actresses and runway models.
Shop for the right look at Symbols of Style
@symbolsofstyle
Follow online shop and magazine Symbols of Style for fashion items for men, women, kids and pets, as well as cool accessories for gadgets and home decor. Also check out other topics on the website (www.symbolsofstyle.com).
Pearypie’s works have been seen in many magazines and runway shows
facebook.com/MomayPaPlearnTV
Do your make-up with singer-turned-beauty-guru Napassorn "Momay" Buranasiri. She has her own show on SpokeDark TV (www.spokedark.tv) called Momay Pa Plern in which she teaches the ladies how to beautify their faces for different occasions, such as for an event, or matching your horoscope. Join her programme's Facebook page which has over 203,000 likes.
facebook.com/pearypiemakeupartist
@pearypie
Another rising online make-up artist is Amata "Pearypie" Chittasenee. While studying at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, she started doing make-up for projects of fellow students. On her YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/pearypie), she teaches you how to do make-up and style your hair. It also features looks she did for different beauty brands. Join the huge following of this cutie-pie on her Facebook page which has over 328,000 likes.
THAILAND'S TOP FIVE INSTAGRAMMERS
1. @aum_patchrapa (Patcharapa "Aum" Chaichue, actress, 1.2m followers)
2. @chomismaterialgirl (Araya "Chompoo" Hargate, actress, 937k followers)
3. @chermarn (Chermarn "Ploy" Boonyasak, actress, 893k followers)
4. @boy_pakorn (Pakorn "Boy" Chatborirak, actor, 825k followers)
5. @vjwoonsen (Wirithipa "Woonsen" Pakdiprasong, actress/VJ, 706k followers)
THAILAND'S TOP FIVE FACEBOOK PAGES
1. facebook.com/tanichitan (Tan Passakornnatee, business tycoon, 2.8m likes)
2. facebook.com/tltexas (Thai Texas Hold 'Em, game application, 2.3m likes)
3. facebook.com/NerkooTH (Nerkoo, dating website, 2.2m likes)
4. facebook.com/upyimfc (Up Yim, news and entertainment website, 2m likes)
5.facebook.com/ichitan (Ichitan, green tea drinks, 1.8m likes)
*According to zocialrank.com
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